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Why Ghajnsielem is against the proposals?

(Thursday, 26th September 2002)

A large site measuring some 50,000 square metres has been identified in maps 14.2A and 14.2E of the draft Gozo and Comino Local Plan document for the establishment of a solid waste transfer station and a sewage treatment plant. The site in question is located just south east of the Gozo heliport and to the west of the main streets of Ghajnsielem, within the area known as Ta’ Brieghen. 

click here to view the proposals on map 
(as shown on the Gozo and Comino Local Plan Document)

"The Local Council was not consulted in any way with regards to the identification of this site. Indeed, it was a total surprise for the local council that the solid waste transfer station is being proposed to be established in Ghajnsielem." mayor Francis Cauchi told Ghajnsielem.com. Francis also gave us a copy of the report which was commissioned by the Ghajnsielem Local Council. The report highlights those subject areas which must be studied in greater detail in the final Gozo and Comino Local Plan. 

Below you may find a list of the disadvantages taken from this report. It shows clearly why our village is against these proposals. 

a. Small distance from inhabited areas and farms
There is only a distance of 30 metres from the nearest dwelling and a distance of 9 metres from the nearest farm.

b. Site is not located within a central area of Gozo
This implies that unpacked waste will be transported a long distance through Gozo, passing from many inhabited areas. This outweighs the smaller distance which packed waste has to travel to Mgarr Harbour.

c. Most of the site consists of high quality agricultural land
Only a small part of the site consists of disturbed land. The vast majority of the site, well over 80% consists of very high quality agricultural land which is cultivated. It would be interesting to note that the site forms part of a vast plain which produces the equivalent of one-third of Gozo’s agricultural produce.

d. The site is located on a prominent plateau which forms an integral part of Ghajnsielem.
The site is located on a plateau which is highly visible both from the surrounding areas and from other sites located on higher grounds, as far as the village of Nadur. Employing visual mitigation measures is not a justification for the choice of such a prominent site.


e. Access through site is either through inhabited areas or from in front of the Gozo heliport terminal
Both access roads leading to the site are not acceptable for such a use since one passes through a densely populated area of Ghajnsielem, while the other passes from in front of the main entrance of the Gozo heliport terminal.

f. The site is only 100 metres away from land which has been earmarked as “reserved for aviation purposes” GZ-TRAN-14
Policy GZ-TRAN-14 of the draft Gozo and Comino Local Plan document states that “As indicated in Structure Plan policy AVN 4, the land at Xewkija (actually forming part of Ghajnsielem) indicated on MAP 14.13-E is being designated as a safeguarded area for a possible extension of air transport facilities. Any extension to the existing facilities will only be considered if the provisions of Structure Plan policy AVN 4 are fully implemented.... The area immediately outside the safeguarded area shall be developed for informal rural recreation and shall be predominantly planted according to the approved Guidance on Planting.” The choice of the site at Tal-Brieghen for a Solid Waste Transfer Station and Sewage Treatment Plant is in conflict with policy GZ-TRAN-14. It is definitely not acceptable that these two purposes are a bare 100 metres away from a possible future airport/heliport terminal. It cannot be considered acceptable to locate these two unsympathetic uses adjacent to such a terminal, especially because tourists landing on Gozo cannot be greeted with the sight of these two plants. Moreover, no guarantee has been given up to now that such plants will not emit odours beyond their perimeters. This means that there can be no guarantee that tourists disembarking from airplanes and/or helicopters will be greeted with odours emanated from these plants.


g. Ghajnsielem Local Council has already objected to the siting of sewage treatment within the site at Ta’ Mgarr ix-Xini (PA 1548/02)
An application for development has been filed earlier this year for the construction of a sewage treatment plant at Ta’ Mgarr ix-Xini, within the limits of Ghajnsielem. The application was filed by the Ministry for the Environment. The site in question is much further away from the Tal-Brieghen site, within the fields which are lower than Tal-Brieghen plateau, much closer to the sea. Ghajnsielem Local Council had immediately objecting to the construction of a sewage treatment plant within the site at Ta’ Mgarr ix-Xini. This objection was not registered as an objection to the project itself. Ghajnsielem Local Council acknowledges the advantages of treating sewage waste. However, it definitely does not agree with the Mgarr ix-Xini site. The choice of a site further south, that is nearer to the sea, would have a much less environmental impact on the surroundings. It would also be further away from the nearest residences. It should in fact be noted that there are certain residences which are at the edge of Tal-Brieghen plateau and which overlook the site at Ta’ Mgarr ix-Xini.

(one of the sites proposed for the sewage treatment)

It would be interesting to note that the Ministry for the Environment had commissioned an alternative site study on the site at Ta’ Mgarr ix-Xini and a site further south, closer to the sea, which Ghajnsielem Local Council is in fact more in favour of, The conclusions of this study prepared by the experts commissioned by the Environment Ministry were practically all in favour of the site closer to the sea, mostly because it is less visible from the surrounding areas including the tourist complex at Chambray. One therefore cannot understand how the site at Ta’ Mgarr ix-Xini was opted for in PA1548/02. One can understand even less how the site at Tal-Brieghen is now being identified for this purpose, considering the much greater visual impact such a development within this site would have.

Therefore, if Ghajnsielem Local Council registered its objection to the siting of the Sewage Treatment Plant at Ta’ Mgarr ix-Xini — which objection was registered through a letter signed by the undersigned as a representative of the local council dated ₁₀th May, 2002 — it objects even more strongly to the siting of the Sewage Treatment Plant and the Solid Waste Transfer Station at Tal-Brieghen plateau. This site will have an even greater negative environmental impact on the surroundings and on the village of Ghajnsielem and is sited much closer to existing residences, as highlighted earlier.

h. Site is far away from main public sewer routes leading to Ras il-Hobz
The site at Tal-Brieghen is far away from practically all the shaft drainage systems conveying public sewage to the sea outfall at Ras il-Hobz. It is located at a horizontal distance of not less than 450m and at a higher change in level of not less than 43m from the nearest point of shaft drainage route conveying public sewage from Ghajnsielem, Qala and Nadur. This means that the site is far from being ideally located even with respect to the pumping of drainage through the sewage treatment plant. Substantial expenses would be incurred in pumping the sewage to a much higher level for treatment. If the drainage from Ghajnsielem, Qala and Nadur is not treated, then one questions whether the feasibility of the plant has been seriously considered. Even the site subject of PA1548/02 at Ta’ Mgarr ix-Xini is located at a substantially higher level and at a distance from the Ghajnsielem/Qala/Nadur public sewer main. This is another reason why Ghajnsielem Local Council has always favourably suggested the site at Tal-Fessej and not the site at Ta’ Mgarr ix-Xini as ideal for the establishment of a sewage treatment plant.

i. Site is located directly above one of Gozo’s largest natural water storage areas
The site at Tal-Brieghen is located directly over one of Gozo’s largest natural water storage areas. In the past there were in fact proposals of how to make maximum use of this large water table reserve. Construction this dual facility at Tal-Brieghen may easily result in a contamination of this water table, no matter how many preventive measures are taken. It should be noted that the Water Services Corporation never gives the green light for the erection of farming compounds where this may affect the water table, even if the developer is willing to implement any measures deemed fit for the prevention of such contamination. So, one cannot understand how the green light may be given for such a scale of an enormous scale which may easily result in contamination of the large water reserve which is located beneath the site.

j. Well-being of residents of dwellings close to the site
As already highlighted earlier, the site at Tal-Brieghen is located very close to a number of dwellings, as close as 30m from the nearest residence. We are willing to produce, whenever requested, medical certificates in our possession showing that certain residents located close to the site are affected by serious illnesses which would certainly be aggravated if the dual purpose proposed for the site is executed. We believe that no serious consideration has been given to the close proximity of the site with respect to residences forming part of the locality of Ghajnsielem.


k. Site crosses walking routes
The site at Tal-Brieghen crosses one of the most popular walking routes of the residents of Ghajnsielem and Xewkija. In fact, one of the countryside walking route programmes presently being prepared for publication following the publication of the Dahlet Qorrot and Ta’ Gurdan walking routes is a walking route passing from near the Tal-Brieghen site. This means that the dual purpose for which this site has been earmarked would also negatively affect the establishment of such a countryside walking route forming part of a series of walking routes resulting to be very popular with tourists. It may also be worth noting that site is very close to Ghajnsielem cemetery which is heavily frequented by the residents of Ghajnsielem.

Click here to read the ''Advantages'' listed on the Gozo and Comino Local Plan Document
Click here to have your say in our Forum Center

 
The Moviment Azzjoni Ghajnsielem (MAS) will be taking signatures against the Waste Transfer Station and Sewage Plant which are being proposed in Ghajnsielem. Do not forget to bring your ID!
- Saturday 28th September 8.30am - 10.30am / 6.30pm - 8.00pm (Pjazza Madonna ta' Loreto)
- Sunday 29th September 8.30am - 11.00am (Pjazza Madonna ta' Loreto)